Very good companions of tracks and lovers of this sport. Once again we leave this space to bring you a new test on another of the blades of the famous 'W' brand. On this occasion, Wilson has allowed us to test his Drone Power 2016 model.
Padel World Press .- The test time we have used in this shovel, as in the previous Wilson test, has been very extensive so we want to thank the firm once again its dealings with us.
For several months we have taken the shovel to all limits, so we can assess the durability of this shovel, an assessment that is undoubtedly very positive since we have not found any damage or any anomaly attributable to the brand ... Because the blows against the mesh or against the shovel of our partner is not covered in the warranty, right? Hahaha. Perfect durability.
We started, for a change, with the product in hand
Wilson presents us with the shovel in its black sheath, a typical cover with nothing that stands out even though we see the word 'Wilson', with all that it entails, written in white and it catches our attention. Even so, and as we discussed in many tests, we try to think of all types of amateur players and their habits, so it is missing that the case has the function 'thermo' for those who go to the track with their shovel in the hand without using pallet or backpack. You know, details that we never put as 'but' although they tend to like people.
We take our shovel out of its cover and there we have it ... A shovel with bright colors combined with dark colors. They present it to us with a gray base where the giant 'W' characteristic of the signature predominates in orange and that includes in the upper and lower part of the face one of the materials of the blade, carbon as seen with some yellow stripe on the sides. The name of the shovel model in orange, and a brutal bridge design also in orange, together form a very striking and original aesthetic, taking maximum care of the details in this aspect.
It has a diamond shape, with a medium size. Its weight, like the models of sale, is of 370 grams of factory.
As a detail, Drone Power has been manufactured with a protector on top of the frame, transparent protector that will protect the head in a very efficient way, something that we can attest because we have tested it several times. Great detail because of the brand we like.
It has the handle of normal size and its original grip falls short, something usual, so you will need to add some other overgrip. The rope of subjection, unlike the previous model of Wilson that we tried, is of bracelet type. A very simple bracelet mode that plays with the rope itself so it does not bring an addition or anything similar but we like this mode.
Once wielded we see that the weight is somewhat displaced to the head, not exaggeratedly, but we do appreciate it, so we already intuited, along with its shape, which will be the group of the stuck.
We stretch a little and… On the track !!
As in us it is custom, we started the test with the rally in the bottom. From there we began to draw several conclusions, such as that the touch is hard, not even a board being the hardest on the market ... Hard and dry although we did not notice any vibration in the arm or wrist at all. Which we are happy about.
Said the above, the ball must be accompanied in each stroke so it does not have a good ball output as is usual in hard touches. It's not that it penalizes; simply the ball will go to the same intensity with which we hit without adding anything, nor subtract.
We notice the sweet spot medium-low, not standing out in this aspect but not being small either. By playing calmly, the ball resolves well and does not suffer ... Something that could happen if we hit it very far from the center but it is that few blades will give us good results with this erratic hitting.
As for the control, we will not obtain any improvement to our own skill either. It has the normal control of any shovel so we do not expect it to be a weapon that places the ball for us ... Despite not having a good ball output, it has a touch that, even though it is hard, allows us to feel the ball perfectly, for what we will have a shovel to which it will not cost to adapt and it will allow us to take the hits that we exactly know how to do, including the effects.
We win the network and start volley. In this blow with which we began to notice one of its great qualities, as is the power. When you crush the ball in one of those volleys that we take from above, we will check the fury with which the ball will come out, with a dry sound that will tell the rivals which blade we are made of.
The volleys come out fast and good ... Accompanying the gesture we will not have problems with it and we can enjoy them. Of course: it is true that the sensation of having the weight shifted to the head, together with the size of the face, will make it move slowly, so we will have to be quick with the assembly and anticipate a little where we the opponent will throw the ball. Agility is not his strong suit and we will have to give him an extra dose.
In the ball blocks you have to be careful since only putting the paddle is not worth it and, in addition, your touch of power can bring us some displeasure. It is not designed to defend, that is clear to us. The left ones, for these same reasons, will also have to be mastered in order to execute them.
And attacking, we force the opponent's easy balloon and the smash… YES; definitely and as we feared, Drone Power has been designed for this type of blows, to break it.
The feel of the paddle, its wide face, the slightly displaced weight and its power will delight all smash lovers. A shovel with a high power, not exaggerated, will give us an extra point of power to our arm ... For those who are not punchers, they will find a help in it for when they dare to hit those short balloons that yes or yes you have to bring or take out for four. A powerful shovel, with a dry sound that will 'distress' the rival without anything.
If we choose to solve a balloon with a tray, their behavior does not differ much from the background hits. The control is normal and the hard touch, with its power of blow, will result from some trays that will come out of our technique at 100%. As we execute it, we will get it. The only thing is that it will help or hurt us in terms of power if we accelerate the tray.
For example, we have loved making vipers with it but if we do not have the blow well caught, the most likely thing is that the ball ends up on the glass ... And not by little. If something hurts is their lack of agility and weight for a quick resolution from the assembly but if we have the technique, they will come out without problem.
La wall outlet It is a blow that we will know how to do with this shovel immediately, since following the script described above, we are facing a model of attack and power ... If the ball is well above us, we must not hesitate to hit it to get all the juice since if we opt for a risky ball, or placement, we may have problems. However, on your wrist is the solution and if you enjoy an enviable wrist, go ahead ... By reducing speed to the shovel you can do it but for the rest it will not be a very comfortable blow.
Therefore, as a puncher that is, we have had a lot of fun giving power to the ball.
As for balloons, a shovel that neither good nor bad ... As long as we do not force them, the balloon will come out well. If a balloon is forced, we will have to be a little careful with this shovel if we do not want them to either fall short or go directly to the back wall. A blow to remove the net and little else ... But we will not be able to cope with this blow if we are not comfortable.
So, and saying all of the above, when we go to the puddening pure and simple we will have to trust ourselves and not bet because this shovel lends us a hand. He does not have a good ball output, he does not have great control and the extra power can penalize us if we are too tight. It is not to defend but to attack and resolve ... In defense we will be ourselves openly and see if we are good as we believe or not so much.
In summary…
Of aesthetics we are going to give him a resounding yes. A nice shovel with a live cosmetics but without shrillness, with the 'W' well in sight that assures us that we have a good brand behind.
We have tested it for a long time and we can assure you that the durability of this blade is very good. We can also confirm that it does not transfer any vibration to our arm, so in these two senses it has a ten.
It is a shovel of the class of the stuck, without any doubt. Hard touch without being extreme, good power and feeling of having the weight moved towards the head. To punish the ball again and again without fear that we fall short. Power is its greatest virtue and it is what we will have to take advantage of.
Designed for pure attack players, it will require a bit of technique in other game situations, so we are going to advise this model to players with a high and aggressive level. If you have a good hand, and you want to have a power plus even if you are not an attacking player, it is also your shovel ... But your level must be high.
It is not an agile shovel, so the armed ones have to be fast and, in volleys against good players in the background, we will have to have a point of anticipation and reading of the opponent's blow. Of course: when they leave us easy volleys we will break the seams of the ball.
In defense, Drone Power will not be a shield for us. We will have to know how to handle it to succeed. Otherwise it is not a shovel that drag us but it will have a 'gray' behavior.
In balloons and trays, a shovel that with good preparation will leave without problems, with the proviso that a comfortable tray can accelerate if we know how to give power to the ball. For the rest, and if we are not comfortable at the moment of the beating, it will be necessary to have a bit of tact with her.
In short ... It is a model for a high level and to hit the ball with pleasure ... A little slow in defense but what the hell ... It is a shovel to be biting the opponent over and over again without rest !!
And so far, the test of the Wilson Drone Power, a shovel that we will call 'La Atizadora' for having been born to remove the seams to the ball as soon as we have the slightest chance.
Remember that your comments are well received at the bottom of this page, by twitter or by email to [email protected] .
Greetings and ... See you on the tracks!
Hugo R.
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